What are the health benefits of eating hot peppers? What makes hot peppers good for your health? Discover the scientifically proven benefits of consuming hot peppers.

The Power of Capsaicin: Unlocking the Health Benefits of Hot Peppers

The documented health benefits of hot peppers continue to grow at a rapid pace, mirroring the increasing popularity of spicy foods. The heat and health advantages of hot peppers stem from a chemical compound called capsaicin. Historically, the use of spices in food helped prevent spoilage in warm climates before the advent of refrigeration. Capsaicin’s antimicrobial properties inhibit up to 75% of bacterial growth, and cultures that relied on spices passed down spicy recipes and a taste for extra zing in their food to the next generation.

Digestive Tract Advantages

Contrary to popular belief, the capsaicin in hot peppers actually acts as an anti-irritant. Research has revealed that peppers are beneficial for those with ulcers, as pepper powder provides trace amounts of antioxidants and other chemicals that aid in healing an upset stomach, reducing intestinal gas, curing diarrhea, and acting as a natural remedy for cramps. Capsaicin helps reduce the acidity in the digestive tract that causes ulcers and also stimulates the production of saliva and gastric juices, aiding the digestive process.

Cardiovascular Health Improvements

Hot peppers also provide benefits for the circulatory system and help prevent heart disease by lowering blood serum cholesterol, reducing lipid deposits, and reversing excessive blood clotting. Capsaicin dilates blood vessels, improving blood flow.

Migraine Relief

Have you ever experienced a pain that was your sole focus until an even worse pain distracted you, causing the original pain to disappear? This phenomenon is what happens when you consume hot peppers and experience migraine relief. The body becomes desensitized to the migraine, and the overall sensation of pain is lessened.

Joint Pain Alleviation

Due to the powerful pain-relieving properties of capsaicin, hot peppers can be applied topically to reduce the chemical P, which carries pain messages to the brain. This causes the pain receptors to exhaust themselves, and the capsaicin then acts as a pain reliever. Hot peppers are used effectively for shingles, HIV neuropathy, and other types of pain.

Weight Loss and Metabolic Boost

Spicy peppers rev up the metabolic rate by generating thermogenic processes in the body that produce heat. This process utilizes energy and burns additional calories. Consuming hot peppers at breakfast can also suppress appetite for the rest of the day, aiding in weight loss. Capsaicin has also been studied as a holistic method for weight loss, as it can selectively destroy nerve fibers that send messages from the stomach to the brain.

Additional Health Benefits

Other health benefits of hot peppers include:

• Quelling psoriasis: Capsaicin cream can significantly reduce the number of cells replicating and aid in the reversal of autoimmune skin lesions.
• Reducing cancer risk: Capsaicin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and studies show it can reduce the growth of prostate, breast, pancreatic, and bladder cancer cells.
• Fighting the flu, colds, and fungal infections: Hot peppers are rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants that support the immune system and can aid in fighting off colds, the flu, and fungal infections.
• Preventing bad breath: Eating hot pepper powder acts as a disinfectant, improving the odor of your breath.
• Preventing allergies: The anti-inflammatory benefits of capsaicin can help prevent allergies and related symptoms.

Harnessing the Power of Hot Peppers

The health benefits of hot peppers are numerous and well-documented. By incorporating these spicy gems into your diet, you can enjoy a host of benefits, from improved digestion and cardiovascular health to pain relief and weight management. So, the next time you reach for a fiery pepper, know that you’re not just satisfying your taste buds – you’re also nourishing your body with a powerful, natural remedy.

10 Amazing Health Benefits to Eating Hot Peppers [Scientifically Proven]

Share these Spicy Health Benefits

The documented health benefits from hot peppers continues to grow at a break-neck speed, similar to the increasing popularity of consuming hot foods in various forms. The heat and health benefits comes from a chemical called capsaicin.

Historically, spicy additions to food helped prevent spoilage in warm climates before the invention of refrigeration. Capsaicin’s anti-microbial properties inhibit as much as 75% of bacteria growth. People from cultures who lived and survived due to the use of various spices passed down to the next of kin spicy recipes and taste buds desiring extra zing in food.

Adding hot peppers, hot sauces and hot powders to food continues to protect us from food poisoning even though we now refrigerate food. To maximize these health benefits, eating the hottest pepper would magnify these effects.

Below are 10 health benefits of hot peppers.

1. Benefits the Digestive Tract

This may sound counter-intuitive, but the capsaicin in peppers actually act as an anti-irritant. People with ulcers have been told for years to avoid hot spicy foods, but research has revealed that peppers are beneficial to ulcers.

For example, pepper powder provides trace amounts of anti-oxidants and other chemicals to aid digestive issues such as, healing an upset stomach, reducing intestinal gas, curing diarrhea and acting as a natural remedy for cramps.

It does this by reducing the acidity in the digestive tract that causes ulcers. It also helps produce saliva and stimulates gastric juices aiding digestion.

2. Promotes a Healthy Heart

It also aids the circulatory system and prevents heart disease by lowering blood serum cholesterol and reduces lipid deposits, and therefore, reverses excessive blood clotting. It also dilates the blood vessels to aid in blood flow.

3. Mitigates Migraines

Have you ever had a pain on a body part that was your sole focus until you had another pain that was even worse? The original pain simply disappeared when your brain focused on the new injury.

This phenomenon is what happens to a migraine when you consume hot peppers. Your body becomes desensitized to the migraine and the overall sensation of pain is lessened.

4. Relieves Joint Pain

Due to the powerful pain-relieving properties of the capsaicin from peppers, it can be applied to the skin to reduce the chemical P, the ingredient that carries pain messages to the brain.

Ultimately, the pain receptors exhaust themselves by depleting the body’s reserves. Once this happens, the capsaicin acts as a pain reliever. It is used effectively for shingles, HIV neuropathy and other types of pain.

Spicy peppers revs up the metabolic rate by generating the thermogenic processes in our body that generates heat.

That process utilizes energy, and thereby, burns additional calores. In addition, if hot peppers are consumed at breakfast, the appetite is suppressed the rest of the day which ultimately helps in weight loss.

It may even alter proteins in your body to combat fat accumulation.

Capsaicin also has been studied as a holistic method to for weight loss. It will selectively destroy nerve fibers that send messages from the stomach to the brain.

6. Quells Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an itchy skin condition resulting in ugly skin patches. Capsaicin cream will significantly reduce the number of cells to replicating and aids in the reversal of the auto-immune skin lesions.

7. Reduces Cancer Risk

Since tne capsaicin in pepper flesh has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is being studied as a cancer-fighter. It reduces the growth of prostate cancer cells, while leaving normal cells unharmed.

Research also shows consumption of large quantities of peppers effective against breast, pancreatic and bladder cancers. (8 large habaneros per week)

8. Fights the Flu, Colds and Fungal Infections

Hot peppers are chock-full of beta carotene and antioxidants that support your immune system and will aid in fighting off colds and the flu.

Research has found that nasal sprays containing capsaicin reduce congestion. Increased body temperature from the ingestion of hot peppers triggers the immune system into action in fighting the norovirus (cold), flu viruses.

Consumption of peppers fights against 16 fungal strains by reducing fungal pathogens.

9. Prevents Bad Breath

To keep your significant other attracted to you, eating hot pepper powder acts as a disinfectant to the air you breathe out by improving the odor of your breath.

10. Prevents Allergies

Due to the anti-inflammatory benefits of capsaicin, hot peppers can help prevent allergies and symptoms from allergies.

Learn something? Share these Hot Pepper Health Benefits

References

Cayenne Pepper Benefits Your Gut, Heart & Beyond – Dr. Axe. (2015, May 23). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://draxe.com/cayenneof-pepper-benefits/

Food bacteria-spice survey shows why some cultures like it hot | Cornell Chronicle. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/1998/03/food-bacteria-spice-survey-shows-why-some-cultures-it-hot

Using Chili Peppers for Pain Relief. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/14/chili-peppers-pain-relief.aspx

Which Hot Peppers Speed Up Your Metabolism Best? (2013, August 16). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/36905-hot-peppers-speed-up-metabolism/

Zhang, W., & Po, L. (1994, March 22). The effectiveness of topically applied capsaicin. Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00196108?LI=true#page-1

9 Amazing Benefits of Eating Hot Peppers That You Must Know – Pepper Joe’s

March 2, 2021

Hot peppers are truly a gift we didn’t know we needed. These chiles that burn your mouth, make you tear up, and gets your forehead sweating actually have a ton of benefits. Not only do hot peppers to add flavor to your meals, but they can improve your health, increase weight loss, and build a stronger immune system. Say what?

There are even studies that growing hot peppers and other fruit and vegetables can help combat carbon emissions and improve mental and physical health.

Pretty crazy how much power one small spicy fruit can hold.

Back before Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, chili peppers were fully domesticated by the native population. They originated in Mesoamerica, the region that extends from Central Mexico to Central America and northern Costa Rica. These people were using hot peppers for culinary and medical uses for centuries, and now there are over 50,000 different peppers in the world! 

If you’re debating on growing hot peppers or eating spicy food, keep reading to find out 9 health benefits of chili peppers and why you should get on board.

What is Capsaicin?

Before we lay out the awesome benefits of peppers, let’s break down what is capsaicin. As we mentioned in our Hot Pepper Heat Scale, capsaicin is the chemical compound found in peppers, and you can find it in the oil residing in the pepper or seed. This is what makes the peppers pretty hot, and why you’re getting that burning sensation that lingers on your tongue for a while.

Fun Fact: Capsaicin even has a medical purpose where it’s a key ingredient in creams and patches that can give you relief from pain. This can help relieve pain like muscle sprains, strains, migraines, and arthritis.

Now that you know what capsaicin is, here are the 9 benefits of hot peppers:

Can Improve Heart Health 

Eating hot peppers or spicy food can promote a healthy heart and prevent blood clots. The chili peppers can reduce the damaging effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is your bad cholesterol and fights off inflammation which is known to be a factor for heart issues.

The capsaicin can prevent blood clots as it clears away artery-narrowing lipid deposits and increases arteries and blood vessels to clear away those clots. This then will create better blood flow, which your heart will thank you!

Soothe Annoying Joint Pain and Nerve Pain

If you got a taste for hot stuff, you probably know some level of pain is involved. Yet, you don’t actually have to eat superhot peppers to relieve that joint or nerve pain. As we mentioned earlier, capsaicin cream can be applied to the skin to act as a painkiller. Studies show that capsaicin reduces the amount of substance P, which substance P means pain chemical that carries pain messages to the brain.

There is also evidence that capsaicin can relieve pain after surgery like a mastectomy or an amputation, and even alleviates pain from nerve damage in the feet or legs from diabetes, lower back injuries, shingles and psoriasis! You’ll be glad to know that you can apply this type of cream to relieve that annoying pain.

Gets Rid of Migraines

Hot peppers may sting you, but it’ll stop the stinging migraine pain. If you experience a migraine and then consume a hot pepper, your body will focus on the pain that’s burning your mouth or in a different part of the body. This will then cause the sensation of the migraine pain to go away! In a study by the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, the researchers believe capsaicin works by desensitizing the trigeminal nerve and depleting CGRP, the neurotransmitter responsible for migraine pain.

You are tricking your body to feel pain somewhere else, which is a win in our books.

Can Help with Weight Loss

Yep you read right, eating hot peppers can increase your metabolism and decrease your appetite, thus potentially helping you with your weight loss. The capsaicin boosts the thermogenic process, which your body turns calories into heat to use for fuel.

When this process is happening, it utilizes energy that burns additional calories so try adding some hot peppers into your cooking or eat spicy food occasionally! Peppers have low calories and a ton of nutrition so you’re getting a bang for your buck.

Not only that, they can help you digest food which we all have come to know what happens to our digestive system after we eat a superhot pepper or some spicy food. Continue reading to learn how it benefits your digestive tract.

Benefits Your Digestive Tract

While it could be a touchy subject, you should know that the capsaicin in hot peppers act as anti-irritant. Chili peppers are rich in antioxidants and other compounds that can soothe digestive issues such as ulcers, upset stomachs, cramps, intestinal gas, and even curing diarrhea. Peppers are able to accomplish this because they stimulate gastric juices and work against the acidity in your digestive tract.

May Reduce Risks of Cancer

Those chili peppers you grow in your backyard presents a potential remedy for fighting cancer. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, the capsaicin and antioxidants in chili peppers can kill cancer in leukemia and prostate cancer. With the capsaicin working as an antioxidant, it’s protecting cells from harmful molecules that can cause cancer.

Although the capsaicin triggers a depletion of leukemia and prostate cancer, this could fight against breast, pancreatic, and bladder cancer as well.

May Improve Longevity

There are some studies saying that consuming spicy food or using common spices have the chance to increase a person’s life to live a longer, heathier life. A study at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences reveals that people who eat spicy food once or twice a week are 10% less likely to die earlier!

The researchers also found that those who eat spicy food three to seven times in a week are less likely to experience cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses.

Clears that Runny Nose, and Fights the Flu, Cold, and Fungal Infections

Having a runny nose or sinus allergies can be frustrating but imagine having a clear head and nose after using a nasal spray or eating some hot peppers to reduce that congestion! Peppers help build a stronger immune system because they are full of antioxidants, specifically full in beta-carotene or pro-vitamin A. Vitamin A and Vitamin C are key in maintaining a healthy system and will build up your immunity against infections and illnesses.

Chili peppers can also be used for their anti-fungal properties, killing food pathogens and cure a number of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Stops that Bad Breath Smell

Must we need to say more? 🙂

How to Start Gardening

Now that you’ve read the health benefits of peppers, you can see why we love hot peppers! They can add flavor to your meals, but they come with a ton of positives that you may have not realized before. If this convinced you to get started but you don’t know where to go, we created an easy-to-follow guide that can help you have a successful growing experience from seed to harvest. 

We have a huge assortment of sweet and bell pepper seeds, rare and exotic pepper seeds, and of course our popular super-hot pepper seeds.

We also have a huge selection of tomato seeds with some pretty unique varieties, plus onion seeds, basil seeds, and cilantro seeds. It’s everything you need for some delicious garden-fresh salsa.

Don’t want to start from seed? Let Joe can do the germination work for you and get live pepper seedlings shipped right to your door in early Spring!

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Niiicce

Shawn MeansJanuary 30, 2023

Good article. Recently started adding Thai Chiles to my food ( small amounts ).

David LilleyJanuary 19, 2023

May kill zombie cells since it fights inflammation

Nusrat RabbeeJanuary 13, 2023

Very informative, I love hot peppers

Kevin ColeJanuary 11, 2023

Nice. I love to have hot pepper 🌶 with my food. Lots of benefits

Muiliyu Alimi September 24, 2022

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Chili pepper – description, benefits and harms, calories, cooking methods.

Main dishes

Gazpacho with cilantro and peanut pesto

tomato

—

2 pcs.

cucumber

—

1 pc.

Bulgarian pepper

–

1 pc.

onion red

—

1 pc.

garlic

—

3 teeth

chilli

—

1 pc.

long loaf

—

3 slices

soy sauce

–

1 tsp.

sesame oil

—

2 tsp.

olive oil

—

6 tsp.

tamarind paste

—

1 st. l.

peanut

—

50 g

Main dishes

Asian Noodles

egg noodles

—

130 g

minced duck

—

400 g

bulb onions

—

1 pc.

egg

–

2 pcs.

white wine

—

20 ml

soy sauce

—

20 ml

teriyaki sauce

—

30 ml

sesame

—

30 g

ginger

–

30 g

garlic

—

4 teeth

chilli

—

1 pc.

cilantro

—

20 g

vegetable oil

—

60 ml

Sauces and marinades

Homemade barbecue sauce

Soups with meat

Asian soup

rice noodles

—

80 g

chicken legs

—

2 pcs.

beef

—

300 g

bulb onions

—

1 pc.

Bay leaf

—

3 pcs.

garlic

—

3 teeth

ginger root

—

40 g

chilli

–

1 pc.

egg

—

1 pc.

star anise

—

1 pc.

carnation

—

5 g

cinnamon

—

1 stick

soy sauce

–

30 ml

green onion

—

30 g

vegetable oil

—

30 ml

corn starch

—

1 tsp.

oyster sauce

—

1 st. l.

lemon juice

–

5 ml

sesame oil

—

10 ml

cilantro

—

10 g

Fish dishes

Assorted seafood with garlic

tiger shrimp

—

200 g

squid commander

—

2 pcs.

mussels in shell

—

100 g

octopus mini

—

150 g

vegetable oil

—

30 ml

grapefruit juice

–

3 tbsp. l.

paprika

—

0.5 tsp.

thyme

—

6 g

garlic

—

1 pc.

ground black pepper

garlic

–

2 teeth

soy sauce

—

30 ml

grapefruit juice

—

3 tbsp. l.

sesame oil

—

20 ml

dry garlic

—

1 tsp.

almond milk

–

50 ml

sesame

—

0. 5 tsp.

green onion

—

10 g

cilantro

—

10 g

chilli

—

1 pc.

ground black pepper

Tomahawk steak with chimichurri sauce and asparagus wrapped in bacon

45 minutes

Tomahawk steak

—

1 pc.

asparagus

raw smoked bacon

ground black pepper

Bulgarian pepper

–

0.5 pcs.

chilli

—

0. 5 pcs.

parsley

garlic

—

2 teeth

bulb onions

—

0.5 pcs.

Mini chicken kebabs with spicy cream sauce

chicken

—

200 g

walnuts (peeled)

—

100 g

Bulgarian pepper

—

0.5 pcs.

trade wind

—

200 g

bulb onions

–

1 pc.

garlic

—

2 teeth

chilli

—

0. 5 pcs.

turmeric

vegetable oil

butter

ground black pepper

parsley

Turkey fricassee with cream sauce

turkey fillet

—

200 g

pasta

—

100 g

Champignon

—

150 g

cream

–

150 ml

bulb onions

—

1 pc.

garlic

—

2 teeth

trade wind

—

200 g

yolks

—

1 pc.

chilli

–

0.5 pcs.

butter

vegetable oil

wheat flour

parsley

Chili – benefits and properties of red hot peppers / NV

Recently, chili and other hot peppers are increasingly appearing in different dishes, and the global trend for different types of paprika is constantly growing. Let’s figure out how useful these vegetables are and why everyone actively cooks and eats them.

All peppers are from Mexico and South America. Paprika fruit has been part of the human diet since about 7500 BC. and are one of the oldest cultures in South America. When Christopher Columbus and his crew reached the Caribbean, they were the first Europeans to encounter this vegetable, calling it “pepper”, drawing an analogy to the taste and characteristics of black pepper that other foods do not have. Then, along with potatoes and tobacco, paprika went to Europe. And after that, the Portuguese went to distribute hot pepper along the Asian trade routes. So this vegetable has turned from a local into a world favorite.

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The most common hot pepper is chili. And although this name is consonant with the country, it comes from the word “chilli” from the Aztec languages ​​Nahuatl (the territory of modern Mexico) and is translated as “red”.

Peru is considered the richest country in terms of the variety of pepper species, the inhabitants of Bolivia eat the largest number of peppers, and India and Thailand are the leaders in the cultivation of vegetables.

Obviously, people are attracted to chili not only by the spicy smell and pungent taste, although, of course, these factors can be considered key. However, this pepper is also rich in vitamins A, B, C, PP, iron, beta-carotene, magnesium, potassium and, most importantly, capsaicin, which gives the fruit a sharpness.

Photo: angelique emonet / unsplash

Benefits of chili peppers

Due to the high amount of capsaicin, peppers are considered to be a very powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent. It can be used to prevent colds and similar diseases.

Chili increases appetite and stimulates the stomach. In addition, it has a mild laxative effect.

Contact with hot peppers releases adrenaline and endorphin, which helps fight depression and anxiety.

Chile lowers blood sugar levels, improves eyesight and helps with weight loss.

But all these positive effects of chili produce on the body only in small doses. Large doses of pepper can be dangerous.

Chili peppers – the star of Mexican cuisine / Photo: emy / unslash

Contraindications for eating red peppers

Hot pepper varieties that contain a lot of capsaicin can be so hot that they will even burn the skin of the hands. Therefore, it is better to deal with such vegetables only with gloves. This pepper is most dangerous for all areas of the mucosa, so you need to be very careful while cooking and eating. After cooking, thoroughly wash your hands and all surfaces with cold water.

Hot pepper is contraindicated for children, allergy sufferers, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with hypertension, diseases of the liver, stomach and kidneys.

Use of red pepper

All types of red pepper are actively used in cooking, especially in Latin America and hot Asian countries. The most popular varieties in cooking are yellow, red and green chili, Kashmiri chili, which is considered the most fragrant, jalapeno, habanero and serrano – very hot varieties. Peppers are dried, ground, pickled, added to fried or baked dishes, smoked, and also added to spicy sauces.

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But besides their food use, peppers are just as important in medicine. Pungent varieties are used in pain relievers such as patches, ointments, and tinctures. Hot baths with pepper solution are used for insufficient blood circulation in the legs. And pepper tinctures and just pepper are for any kind of shock, fainting or heart attacks.

See also:

Some like it hot. Doctors have proven the benefits of chili pepper

Photo: anais almeida / unsplash

In addition, red pepper is very effective for headaches, so it is often used to treat migraines. Studies also show that eating pepper reduces the risk of death from a heart attack, as well as cancer.

Pepper capsaicin is also used in more everyday items. For example, capsaicin is found in pepper spray, which is often used for self-defense. In addition, it is used to protect the crop from small pests and large animals that can covet the crop.

Scoville Scale

This scale is a measure of the spiciness of chili peppers, written in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), based on the concentration of capsaicinoids.